logo
episode-header-image
Apr 2024
38m 34s

# 72 - Sleep & Cannabis

DR. MATT WALKER
About this episode
Matt introduces his series examining the complex relationship between sleep and cannabis, exploring both the historical context and contemporary scientific perspectives. The narrative begins with Dr. W.B. O'Shaughnessy's canine experiments in 1849, tracing the evolution to the foundational work on cannabis for sleep conducted by Drs. Clendinning and Bradbury ... Show More
Up next
Sep 14
#151 - The Geography of Sleep
Matt breaks down the conflict between wall clocks and our biological rhythms, explaining how latitude and longitude dictate our rest. Latitude alters seasonal daylight and melatonin - though artificial light mutes this natural cycle - and broad time zones create "social jet lag." ... Show More
23m 43s
Sep 7
#150 - The Neuroscience of Déjà Vu
Matt digs into the neuroscience of déjà vu, reframing it as a sign of a healthy brain performing real-time error correction. Using a "doorman" (familiarity) vs. "concierge" (recollection) analogy, Matt explains how memory systems misfire. When the rhinal cortex signals recognitio ... Show More
31m 53s
Aug 31
The Night Ferryman: A Sleep Story Read by Matt Walker
Join Matt for a serene excursion across a valley lake under the cover of night. After finding a comfortable position and centering your breath, you will step onto the deck of a weathered ferry. Marcus, the pilot, unties the lines, steering you away from the daily bustle and into ... Show More
35m 15s
Recommended Episodes
Oct 2025
Can cannabis help you sleep? Here's the science | Jen Walsh
Can cannabis actually treat insomnia? It's complicated, says sleep physiologist Jen Walsh. While the plant has been used across time and cultures, there's been little scientific research on how it impacts sleep disorders like insomnia. That's precisely where she and her team come ... Show More
13m 23s
Jun 2025
Essentials: The Science & Practice of Perfecting Your Sleep
In this Huberman Lab Essentials episode my guest is Dr. Matt Walker, PhD, Professor of Neuroscience and Psychology at the University of California, Berkeley and host of The Matt Walker Podcast, which focuses on the science and impact of sleep. We explore the importance of sleep a ... Show More
41m 2s
Oct 2022
The Effects of Cannabis (Marijuana) on the Brain & Body
In this episode, I discuss cannabis (aka marijuana), including the biological mechanisms underlying its effects on the mind and body, its known medical applications, its impact on libido, creativity, hunger, hormones and more. I also cover the known adverse health consequences of ... Show More
2h 38m
Apr 2024
Can cannabis help you sleep? Here's the science | Jen Walsh
Can cannabis actually treat insomnia? It's complicated, says sleep physiologist Jen Walsh. While the plant has been used across time and cultures, there's been little scientific research on how it impacts sleep disorders like insomnia. That's precisely where she and her team come ... Show More
12m 3s
Jul 2024
How Cannabis Impacts Health & the Potential Risks | Dr. Matthew Hill
In this episode, my guest is Dr. Matthew Hill, Ph.D., a professor of cell biology and anatomy at the Hotchkiss Brain Institute at the University of Calgary and an expert on the biology of cannabis. We discuss how cannabis affects the brain to produce its psychoactive effects (fee ... Show More
3h 52m
Aug 2021
The Science & Practice of Perfecting Your Sleep | Dr. Matt Walker
In this episode, my guest is Dr. Matt Walker, Ph.D., Professor of Neuroscience and Psychology and the Founder & Director of the Center for Human Sleep Science at the University of California, Berkeley. He is also the author of the international best-selling book Why We Sleep and ... Show More
3h 3m
Apr 2019
#49 – Matthew Walker, Ph.D., on sleep – Part III of III: The penetrating effects of poor sleep from metabolism to performance to genetics, and the impact of caffeine, alcohol, THC, and CBD on sleep
<p>In the final part of this 3 part series, Matthew Walker, professor of neuroscience at UC Berkeley and expert on sleep, discusses the omnipresent effects of insufficient sleep on everything from metabolism, appetite, athletic performance, decision-making, productivity, leadersh ... Show More
2h 1m
Jun 2023
221. How to optimize sleep
<p>Paul’s episode today is all about sleep. He touches on substances like caffeine, alcohol, and marijuana, how grounding may impact circadian rhythms,  and you’ll get an inside look at Paul’s morning and nighttime routine.</p> <p><br></p> <p>00:09:00 How we view sleep as a socie ... Show More
1 h
Apr 2024
GUEST SERIES | Dr. Matt Walker: Protocols to Improve Your Sleep
This is episode 2 of a 6-part special series on sleep with Dr. Matthew Walker, Ph.D., a professor of neuroscience and psychology and founder of the Center for Human Sleep Science at the University of California, Berkeley. We discuss basic and advanced tools for improving sleep an ... Show More
2h 42m
Apr 2024
GUEST SERIES | Dr. Matt Walker: How to Structure Your Sleep, Use Naps & Time Caffeine
This is episode 3 of a 6-part special series on sleep with Dr. Matthew Walker, Ph.D., a professor of neuroscience and psychology at the University of California, Berkeley, and leading public educator about the role of sleep in health, disease and performance.  We explain how our ... Show More
2h 18m